ritain’s Prince Charles lavished Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti with praises on Thursday for her stern policy in combating illegal fishing and ensuring sustainable fisheries.
The two met on the sidelines of the fourth Our Ocean Conference (OCC).
“You are a pioneer,” Charles said to Susi, referring to her courage in sinking almost 300 foreign vessels caught illegally fishing on Indonesian waters.
“They (the illegal vessels) deserve it,” he said.
Charles was one of the speakers in the conference, and had encouraged government officials, businesspeople, scientists and activists around the world to reduce the use of plastic bags that had contributed to the destruction of the ocean ecosystem.
The prince highlighted the problem of cheap and easy-to-produce plastic flooding the ocean and ending up in harming the environment.
Due to the prince’s active engagement in combating marine debris, Susi said she would invite him to attend the fifth OCC in Bali next year.
“I asked the prince directly whether he would attend next year’s OCC in Bali. He replied: I will, if I am still alive,” said Susi recalling the conversation with Charles.
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